COLLEGE PREP ~ Section 8.4/8.

5: Graphing Quadratic Equations

Objectives:
 Graph quadratic functions in any form, using properties of .
 Find the vertex of a parabola, given the quadratic equation, and determine if it’s a maximum or minimum.

Definition: A quadratic function is a function in the form

where are real numbers, and . The domain of a quadratic consists of all real numbers.

When we graph quadratic functions, we can rewrite the function in the form , (called the “vertex
form”) and use the and values to graph the function without plotting points. This is called “graphing using
transformations” because the and values move (or transform) the placement of the graph on the coordinate
plane.

Properties of the Vertex Form ( )

 The vertex of the parabola is at the point .
 The value tells you how far left or right the vertex of the graph will shift. (If you see , the graph will
shift to the RIGHT, if you see the graph will shift to the LEFT.
 The value tells you how far up or down the vertex of the parabola will shift.
 The value describes the vertical stretch or compression (how tall and skinny, or wide and fat it gets).

Look at . We call this our “parent graph”. This is the graph that we always start with.

X Y (x, y)
0 (0, 0)
1 (1, 1)
-1 (-1, 1)
2 (2, 4)
-2 (2, -4)

When we use transformations to shift the graph we start with this basic form.

Graphing Quadratic Functions in Vertex Form:

Step 1: Find the vertex and mark it on the coordinate plane.
Step 2: Identify the “stretch” (the value). If your stretch is negative, your graph will open downwards. If your
stretch is any value other than 1, you will have to adjust the points of your new graph. (For example, if ,
you would go over one unit from the vertex and up 2(1)=2 units. Then go over 2 units from the vertex and go
up 2(4)=8 units.
Step 3: Graph the function at that new vertex, adjusting your points according to the stretch.
EXAMPLES: Graph the following functions using transformations. Identify the vertex, and the vertical stretch if any.
Find the domain and the range of the function.
A)
Rewrite in vertex form:
so h=0, k=4 Vertex: (0, 4), a=1, so no vertical
stretch. Therefore it’s a regular graph shifted up 4.
DOMAIN: all real numbers, RANGE:
B)
Rewrite in vertex form:
h=3, k=0 Vertex: (3,0), a=1, so no vertical stretch.
Positive so it opens up. Move the graph 3 to the right.
DOMAIN: all real numbers, RANGE:
C)
h=-4, k=-1 Vertex: (-4, -1) a=1, so a regular
graph with the vertex moved 4 to the left and down 1.
DOMAIN: all real numbers, RANGE:
D)
Vertex form: , so h=0
and k=0. Vertex: (0, 0) a=3, so our graph opens
upward, and each point is “stretched” 3 units. (This will
make it tall and skinny). Think about our points: if
, so we have a point at (1, 3)
instead of (1, 1).
DOMAIN: all real numbers, RANGE:
E)
h=1, k=3, Vertex: (1, 3) a=-2 which means
the graph will open downward. It also means that
every point will “stretch” twice the distance it normally
does. So move the vertex one unit to the right and 3
up, then graph a skinny graph downward.
DOMAIN: all real numbers, RANGE:

What happens if our function equation isn’t in vertex form, but it’s in standard form instead? We can find the vertex by
another method.

The Vertex of a Parabola:

Any quadratic function , will have the vertex

In other words, you can find the x-value of the vertex ( ) by finding , then plug that value into the equation and it will
give you the y-value ( ) of the vertex.

Example:
F) Find the vertex of the function:

VERTEX:

Graphing a Quadratic Function in Standard Form:

Step 1: Decide if the parabola opens up or down (look at the value – it defines your stretch regardless of the form
the function is in).
Step 2: Find your vertex using the formula. Using this new vertex, rewrite the equation in vertex form
.
Step 3: Graph as before.
Examples: Graph. Find the Domain and Range of the function.
G) H)
a=1, so the graph opens upward and is a normal stretch. a=-2, graph opens downward and has a stretch of 2.
Find the Vertex. Find the vertex:
VERTEX: (1, -4)
VERTEX FORM: VERTEX: (-2, 9) VERTEX FORM:
DOMAIN: all real numbers RANGE: DOMAIN: all real numbers RANGE:

Finding the Maximum or Minimum Value of a Quadratic Function:

The maximum or minimum value of a quadratic function always occurs at the vertex, since that will be the
highest point on the graph (the maximum) if the graph opens downward, or the lowest point of the graph (the
minimum) if the graph opens upward. Since we are looking at height, this value relates to the y-axis, so the y-value of
the vertex ( ) will be the maximum or minimum value.

Examples: Determine whether the quadratic function has a maximum or minimum value, then find that value.
I) The graph opens up, so it has a minimum value at .

has a minimum value of -21, when x = -3

J) The graph opens downward, so it has a maximum value at

has a maximum value of 7 when x = 1

K) A farmer has 2000 feet of fencing to enclose a rectangular field. What is the maximum area that can be
enclosed by the fence? What are the dimensions of the rectangle that encloses the most area?
Let and . The perimeter equals 2000, so .
Solve for one of the variables:
The area of the rectangle is found by . Substitute:
This is a quadratic equation with a=-1, b=1000, and c=0. Since the vertex is the maximum, find the vertex:
so the MAXIMUM AREA= 250,000 sq. feet
The length equals h, and the width equals 1000-l, so LENGTH= 500 feet, WIDTH = 500 feet
Homework: Page 658: # 9,11,17,19,25,33,39,45,51,61,65,71,75,77,79 AND Page 672: #17,19,27,31,57,61,63,73,83